Clothes drier



June 5, 1951 M. M. SMITH 2,555,821

CLOTHES DRIER Filed April 22, 1950 l 4 IA 43 ZJ u If INVENTOR.

MARVlN M. SMITH 272 ATT'YS Patented June 5, 1951 UNITED STATE-S PAT2,555,821

CLOTHES DRIER Marvin M. "Smith, Muncie, ind. Application April 22, 1950,Serial No. 154,543

2 *Claims. (01-. 34-46,

.1 This invention relates to the drying of fabrics,

and particularly to domestic clothes driers.

The main objects of this invention are to provide improved operatingprocedure and improved construction for use in clothes driers; toprovide improved means 'for removing moisture from fabrics such aswashed garments in a simple operation of relativelysho'rt duration; andto provide an improved construction for domestic clothes driers foroperation in accordance with such method.

A specific embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a clothes drierconstructed according to this invention, the

section being taken on the axis of rotation of the centrifugal clothestumbler. 4

Fig. '2 is a diagrammatic layout showing the drier in relation to anappropriate form of operating mechanism.

In the form "shown Figure l, the container for the clothes to be driedis in the form of a centrifugal tumbler I carried by a shaft 2j'o'u'rnaled on a horizontal axis and 'enelosed in an airtight housing'3 having a door 4 "opposed to the open end 5 of the tumbler I.

The peripheral portion 6 of the tumbler I is of perforated or otherforai'riinou's form to permit of the free assage of moisture and vaporthrough it. The back wall 1 may be formed or unperio'rated metal andthere is an inwardly curved marginal rim 8 around the open end of thecontainer which tends to confine the contents and prevent them fromshifting outward during the rotation of the tumbler. To facilitatetumbling there may be bafiles Ll on the conical rear portion thereof.

The housing 3 is in the form of an airtight cabinet, which in the formillustrated is made up of a rear part 9 and a front part H3 havingregistering rims II and [2 that are formed to interfit with each otherwith an interposed packing 13. The rims II and H! are embraced by anouter band l4 of such V-shaped cross section that the rims are pressedtogether by contraction of the band I4, which may be made up of aplurality of segments having flanged ends bolted together at IS, thenumber and shape of these band segments depending upon the shape of thecabinet walls in the plane of the rims II and 12. The external contourof the housing in this plane is preferably circular in order to reducethe waste space in its interior to a minimum but may, of course, bevaried for external appearance.

The tubular member I! which houses the bearings for the shaft 2 ismounted between the rear wall l8 or the housing and an inwardlyextending support 49 in the form of a conical shell. The bearingstructure has an appropriate seal for confining the lubricant andpreventing leakage of air through the bearings of the shaft 20.

The tumbler basket I is carried on the shaft 2 by a hub 21 and the rearwall 1 of the basket has a conical central portion, spaced from and ingeneral conformity with the conical Wall I19.

In order to provide means to promote the condensation of vapor withinthe housing. that part of the rear wall that lies between the centralbearing carrying structure and periphery of the housing comprises spacedwalls 122 and 23 enclosing a coolant chamber :24 which is provided withan inlet duct 25 and an outlet duct :26 for the circulation of'WfltGI'OI other cooling medium through the chamber 24, thus providing acold surface '26 upon which vapor will condense. The resulting waterwill be direct d to a drain pipe 21 in the bottom Wall of the housing. Agutter 2B is formed at the inner margin of the wall 22 so as to conductcondensate forming on the wall 22 around the bearing supportingstructure. The :drain pipe 21 has a check valve 211 normally closedagainst inflow of air and an intermediate reservoir 21. 2 is providedfor collecting water while the vacuum prevents flow through the checkvalve 21.1

A tube 29 extends through the walls 2 2 and it appropr at po tion o rvea uc i i e through which air from within the housing may be exhausted bymeans of an appropriate pump, such as the ejector 30. This suction lineis suitably arranged with a check valve 3|, so that air or water willnot enter the housing through it.

A radiant heating device is located around the rim flange 36 of the dooropening and opposite the upper part of the open end of the tumbler, andis provided with a highly polished reflector 31 for concentrating anddirecting radiant heat into the contents of the tumbler I. This heatermay comprise coils 38 energized by an electric circuit indicated at 39.The heater is preferably of arcuate form concentric with the axis of theshaft 2 and its reflector is formed and positioned for most effectivetransmission of heat to the contents of the tumbler.

The door 4 is hinged at 40 and provided with a latch member 4| havingcamming engagement with the stud 42 for efiecting airtight closure ofthe door by means of the marginal packing member 43. A normally closedair valve 44, conveniently located in the door 4, controls a vent 3opening for admitting air to break the vacuum and permits the door to beopened.

Power may be supplied to the shaft 2, either by an electric motor 45belted to the pulley 46 or by other appropriate power, as for example awater motor receiving pressure from the city water supply.

In operation the moist clothes or other fabric materials that are to bedried are inserted through the door 4 into the centrifugal container land the door'is closed and latched. Then the motor is turned on so as torotate the tum- V bler at suitable speed.

The vacuum pump is operated so as to exhaust air from the housing andcreate a substantial partial vacuum. The electric current'is then turnedon to the heating element 35, and, as the rays are directed onto theclothes as they are tumbled, the heat reaches all parts thereofvaporizing the moisture. content. The heat from the heating elements andthe partial vacuum cause the moisture in theclothes to evaporate rapidlyand the vapor is condensed on the cold walls 22 of the condenser andpasses-off through the drain.

Because of the vacuum, the vaporizing point is lowered. With a vacuum ofapproximately 25 inches of mercury, there is a boiling point of about133 F. and a somewhat lower vaporizing point. This produces anatmosphere up to 100% humidity in the housing. Under these conditionsthe vapor collects and condenses on the cold surface of the condenserand there is no need of mechanical means to direct the vapor to thecondensing surface. The condensing process is blowing vapor and lintinto the room or house.

Although but one specific embodiment of the invention is herein shownand described, it will be understood that numerous details may bealtered or omitted without departing from the 4 spirit of the inventionas claims.

I claim:

1. A clothes drier, comprising a tumbler for the clothes, said tumblerbeing journalled on a horizontal axis, being open at one axial end andhaving a foraminous periphery, a housing surrounding said tumbler, adoor in said housing adjacent the open end of said tumbler, means forexhausting air from said housing, radiant heating means directed intothe open end of said tumbler for vaporizing moisture therein, cooledcondensing means in said housing positioned to drain its condensate awayfrom the contents of said tumbler, and means for draining liquid fromthe lower part of said housing.

defined by the following 2. A clothes drier, comprising a tumbler forholding the clothes, being journalled on a horizontal axis, being openat one axial end and closed at the othe and having a foraminousperipheral wall, an airtight housin surrounding said tumbler, a door insaid housing adjacent the open end of said tumbler, means for exhaustinair from said housing, radiant-heating means directed into the open endof said tumbler for vaporizing moisture in the contents thereof, meansfor continuously cooling a wall of said housing behind the closed end ofsaid tumbler for condensing the vapor in saidhousing, a reservoirpositioned to collect drainage from said .cooled wall Without exposingsame to the heat of said heating means, and a normally closed air inletfor breaking the vacuum in said housing.

MARVIN M. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Morrison Jan. 24,

